Women are being economically empowered: "I don’t have to ask for cash to others for my personal work

Women are being economically empowered: "I don’t have to ask for cash to others for my personal work

Mahakaleshwori
women collective group has been established with a major objective of enhancing
and supporting women in improving their economic socio status level through
forming different sub groups as per their livelihood options. Here, these women
collective group has been supported Rs 4, 00,000 under the community led
reconstruction programme for strengthening such groups both economically and
socially.

Shivakumari
Pandit ,56 of Helambu rural municipality 7 is
a member of Mahakaleshwori women collective group. Pandit recalls "When I first started
vegetable farming and started selling my vegetable 4 years back , people used
to mock me telling how much greedy I have become of trying to earn from selling
vegetables. Despite these back biting of people I had envisioned myself to be
independent single women rather than being burden to my family. Today these
people only ask me about why I haven’t bought any vegetables for selling. Nowadays,
whenever I go out for selling my vegetables it gets finished before I reach in
Chanaute."

Similarly, Pandit
is growing cauliflower, chilies and tomatoes in season with earning up to 30-35
thousand per month in seasonal period. Shiva Kumari shares "After CSRC
supported our women collective group, I had submitted my plan and received
15,000 support.10% interest has to be paid in group per 6 months. With which I
have bought a tank and seeds. We submit Rs20 per month for saving and are
planning to increase our saving for investing further in livelihood
works."

Currently, there
are 58 women members in her group including her. Shiv Kumari suggests to other
single women like her "Vegetable farming has made me independent, being
a member of such group is fruitful you get both knowledge and support for
future endeavors. And suggest many single women like me to get involved in such
collective group and suggest agency to support for women economic empowerment
as well."